Policy Review on Cyberbullying

Authors

Nozipho Mojapelo

Zimbabwe Psychology Association (Zimbabwe)

Article Information

DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS.2026.100600921

Subject Category: Psychology

Volume/Issue: 10/6 | Page No: 13100-13105

Publication Timeline

Submitted: 2026-06-20

Accepted: 2026-06-25

Published: 2026-07-08

Abstract

In today’s world, community is no longer defined solely by geography, it’s defined by connection. In Zimbabwe the digital expansion has caused a severe public health and human crisis. Harassment in the digital era reveals a 75% of students reported having intimidating. The Zimbabwean government enacted the Cyber and Data Protection Act [Chapter 12:07] and the National Child Online Protection Policy (2026 – 2030 to protect its citizen in the digital era. Studies have highlighted the impact cyberbullying has on the victim’s mental health, self-esteem and academic performance. This paper reviews the Zimbabwe’s policy and proposes recommendations to help mitigate cyberbullying in communities. Our sense of belonging plays a huge role in mental and emotional wellbeing. That is why using community psychology principles of prevention, empowerment and ecological perspective can help build healthy communities were digital misuse is lessened.

Keywords

Every second, someone is connecting with another human being

Downloads

References

1. Africa Social Work Network (ASWN). (2022). Cyberbullying among high school learners in Zimbabwe: Motives and effects. ASWN Digital Library. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Government of Zimbabwe. (2021). Cyber and Data Protection Act [Chapter 12:07]. Zimbabwe Legal Information Institute. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe [POTRAZ]. (2023). Cyber and data protection baseline assessment of Zimbabwean enterprise. POTRAZ Research Reports.potraz.gov.zw [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Moyo, S., & Ndlovu, N. (2022). Cyberbullying among high school leaners in Zimbabwe: Motives, effects, and the institutional vacuum. African Journal of Social Work, 12(4), 185-194. africasocialwork.net [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Chakamba, A. & Zhou, M. (2022). Digital harassment and youth perceptions in Harare Metropolitan Province: Evaluating vulnerabilities in the web era. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), 6 (4), 621- 628. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Sibanda, M. (2021). Cyberbullying in Higher and Tertiary education institutions in Zimbabwe: Forms, Extent, Effects and Contributing factors. Journal of Systems Integration 11 (2):17-27 DOI:10.20470/jsi.v11i2.387 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Mawere, D. (2023). Cybersexual harassment in a state University in Zimbabwe: Voices of female students. The Dyke 16 (2):1-18 DOI:10.64754/thedyke.v16i2.185 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

Metrics

Views & Downloads

Similar Articles